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This probably seems like a long time ago, but in truth it wasn't so long ago that right-hander Danny Salazar was the Indians' best starting pitcher.

At the end of June, the 27-year-old right-hander boasted a 2.22 ERA after his first 15 starts of the season and 107 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings. Armed with a fastball and sinker that sit in the mid-90s with good action and a breaking ball-changeup combo to keep hitters off balance, Salazar in 2016 was getting results to match the stuff in a big way. However, when the calendar flipped to July, his performance began degrading. Over his next five starts -- a span that covered July 4 through Aug. 1 -- Salazar pitched to a 7.88 ERA. That cutoff is notable because on Aug. 2 the Indians placed Salazar on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.

While there was surely some short-run bad luck on batted balls at work in this numbers (just as there was surely some good luck at play in Santana's pre-July bestowals), it seems highly likely that Salazar was already feeling the effects of his injury well before he was deactivated. On that point, check out his July dip in velocity (chart via the excellent Brooks Baseball) ...

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After a 15-day stint on the DL, the Indians activated Salazar, but he clearly wasn't right. You see a short-lived velocity rebound above, but it's followed by some decline. The numbers also don't say nice things: five starts, 6.75 ERA, opponents' batting line of .305/.396/.476. The Indians shut down Salazar on Sept. 9 after he left his start against the Twins with a forearm strain.

All of that brings us to the run-up to the 2016 World Series. Thanks in part to manager Terry Francona's aggressive "bullpenning," the Indians have gone 7-1 this postseason despite having Corey Kluber and a skeleton crew populating the playoff rotation. In addition to Salazar's absence, Carlos Carrasco is out for the year with a fractured hand, and Trevor Bauer of course barely pitched in the ALCS because of a finger laceration. Insofar as Salazar is concerned, though, there's this bit of encouragement ...

That's Salazar's warming up for a simulated game on Sunday at Progressive Field -- itself a good sign. Here two more of same -- i.e., good signs: Francona said as early as Friday that Salazar was "ready to pitch," and by all accounts his simulated game went quite well. There's also this:

That's key. As we've seen, Salazar can still take the mound and pitch while running at less than full capacity, but the results haven't been optimal. Getting 100 percent Salazar -- the first-half version of Salazar -- is what the Tribe needs.

At this point, it's feeling like Salazar will be on the Indians' World Series roster. If he's truly back to form, then a start will likely be in order. That's obviously a tantalizing possibility for the Indians, not only because of Salazar's excellent-when-healthy capabilities, but also because the Cubs' offense this season has been significantly less potent against right-handed pitching.

If Salazar's not able to stretch out, though, he still makes for an intriguing bullpen option. He's struggled with his sinker since mid-season, and pitching in relief would allow him to back off of the pitch in favor of a fastball-changeup approach, possibly. Consider that Francona has flashed to great effect an "all hands on deck" approach to his pitching staff this postseason, Salazar would be a valuable add even if not in the World Series rotation.

Regardless of his role, don't be surprised if Salazar -- not all that long ago the best out-maker on the Cleveland staff -- winds up playing a significant role in this year's Fall Classic.